Crimes related to numismatics know no boundaries and affects the numismatic industry around the world. Millions of dollars in numismatic items have been stolen from collectors and dealers who have fallen prey to a numismatic crime.

The Numismatic Crime Information Center is a 501 (c)(3) non profit corporation established to coordinate and collaborate initiatives between law enforcement and the numismatic industry in “Targeting Numismatic Crimes Around the World.” Please refer to the about page for more information.

Note: The following items and links about Numismatic Crime are compiled by CoinWeek from multiple news sources and are reposted for informational purposes only with no guarantee of accuracy and the original souerce is solely responsible for the content.

October 29th, 2014

Major Theft at Coin Show

Detectives are investigating a major theft that occurred at a Sarasota coin show on Saturday Oct 25, 2014. They are asking assistance in identifying 4 suspects involved in the theft.

October 28th, 2014

The Suffolk County Police Department is requesting assistance of any dealer that knows or has conducted business with a subject identified as Anthony Dimase alias Anthony Polcari.

Anyone with information should contact: Doug Davis 817-723-7231 or Doug@Numismaticcrimes.org

October 25th, 2014

Missing/Stolen Coins

The following coins were sent from Dubuque, Iowa to Sioux City, Iowa, with stops in Indianapolis and Omaha. The package arrived at its destination empty, slit with a razor knife/blade and the contents missing.The package contained:

October 20th, 2014

The Suffolk County Police Department (NY) is requesting assistance of any dealer that knows or has conducted business with a subject identified as Anthony Dimase.

Anyone with information should contact: Doug Davis at 817-723-7231 or Doug@Numismaticcrimes.org

Silver Dollars Stolen

A double row box full of common date Morgan dollars in plastic flips was stolen from the table of “The Coin Shop Biloxi” during the MNA show held in Southaven, Mississippi. The dates ranged from 1878-S to 1922 and graded EF to MS63. The flips had an insert with “The Coin Shop Biloxi” and the box had shop stickers on the inside lid and bottom (underneath coins).

Anyone with information should contact: Doug Davis 817-723-7231 or Doug@Numismaticcrimes.org

October 16th, 2014

Coin Shop Burglary

On the weekend of October 11, 2014 an Eastern Shore Maryland dealer was the victim of a burglary which resulted in the loss of over $300,000 in gold and cash. The suspects utilized a sledge hammer to gain entry into the shop from an adjoining business. The motion alarm was not tripped.

Approximately 500-600 pieces of fractional gold and early commemoratives was stolen. The coins included Pandas, Maple Leafs, Eagles and Kangaroos. Also taken was $60,000 in cash.

Dealers should be on the watch for any subject or subjects attempting to sell a large number of gold coins as described above.

October 9th, 2014

Missing Coins

John Brush, Vice President of David Lawrence Rare Coins advises that after returning from the PCGS Invitational Coin Show in Las Vegas, Nevada an 1898-S $20 PCGS MS64+ with serial number 06611632 is missing.

October 2nd, 2014

Vehicle Burglary

Tacoma Washington police are investigating the vehicle burglary of dealer Revick Galstaun of West Coast Coins. The offense occurred while the vehicle was parked at the Emeralds Casino in Tacoma, Washington.
Below is a partial listing of stolen coins.

220 Raw Morgan Dollars (117 are not in flips but are in small plastic bags) (103 are graded from VF to MS-65) The ones in flips will have a code on the back middle portion saying either “ES” or “EK” for the cost. Value: $7,587

Wisconsin 3-piece quarter set the errors $300

Raw Key Dates: (if in original holders code# on back in upper-left side with blue dot on flip) (photos available on request)

#4778 1795 Large Cent AG $275

#7890 1877 1c VF-XF $1985

#34 1877 1c Good Corroded Ugly $425

#338 1909 S 1c Indian VF $545

#6992 1909 S VDB 1c XF $1085

#7811 1909 S VDB 1c VF-XF $95

#6578 1914 D 1c VF-XF $49

#6047 1864 Small Motto 2c VF-XF $675 (and two others)

#6320 1872 2c VF-XF $895

Coin Books Stolen:

Indian/Flying Cents Total 285 Coins $11,143.75

Copper Half Cents / Large Cents 176 Coins $8121.20

Jefferson Nickel Book Around 400 coins $2,000

Buffalo Nickel Book 502 Coins total $16,314.25

Mercury Dime Book 254 Coins $7,529.30

(coin book list/photos available on request)

Also taken was a large amount of PCGS, NGC and ANACs certified coins. This list is also available upon request.

October 1st, 2014

Vehicle Burglary

The Maryland State police are investigating the smash and grab vehicle burglary of dealer Mark Reid of the Time Machine. The victim stopped at a way station on I95 while traveling between the Fredericksburg show and Fort Washington Show. In less than five minutes the suspects, described by witnesses as three large Hispanic males smashed the rear window and removed coins, medals and antiquities valued at over $200,000. The suspect vehicle was described as a beat up black van with Virginia plates.

The stolen items included boxes of small antiquities such as seals, amulets, rings and cylinders which totaled approximately 200. Over 800 coins including ancient, world, US and medieval were taken. Additional items included a large amount of medals from the 1800’s, 100 medium sized antiquities in bronze and terracotta like statues, animals, jewelry and a box containing 15 scarcer Alexandrian drachms with Ancient import flips in them.

September 25th, 2014

Missing Coins

A USPS Express Mail package belonging to Spectrum/Stack’s Bowers Galleries went missing in Santa Ana, CA on August 28, 2014, while in the custody of the Post Office. The package contained four graded coins.

September 10th, 2014

Stolen Coins

A Fedex shipment containing rare Cypress coins along with 40 other scarce world coins have been reported stolen while being shipped from Athens Greece to Paris.

The rare Cyprus coins are the following:

a. Cyprus ¼ Piastre 1880 of Queen Victoria. This coin looks like Proof but we believe that it would have been graded as MS65BN PL according the USA standards or Brown Uncirculated (Prooflike) according to the UK standards. The coin has a mirror surface and brown color both sides which
makes it looks proof but we believe it is an early strike.

b. Cyprus ½ Piastre 1908 of King Edward VII. We believe that this coin would have been graded as MS63BN or MS64BN according to the USA standards or Brown Uncirculated according to the UK standards. This coin has some red luster on reverse and light brown color both sides. This is the weakly struck variety (King’s portrait on obverse and the line from ½ on reverse are weakly stuck).

c. Cyprus Proof set of 3 silver coins dated 1921 of King George V. The coins are 4 ½ Piastres, 9 Piastres and 18 Piastres all dated 1921. These coins have dark grey and blue patina and we believe that they would have been graded as follows: 18 Piastres PF64-65, 9 Piastres PF64-65 and 4 ½ Piastres PF63-64. The 4 ½ Piastres has a few light hairlines from an old cleaning which are under the deep grey and purple patina. All coins have a matching dark grey and blue toning except the 4 ½ Piastres which has also a light purple color mixed with grey.

Other coins stolen include 20 Gem Uncirculated Malaya & British Borneo 20 Cents 1961 of Queen Elizabeth II (MS65-MS67) and 20 modern Greek coins from King Paul I and King Constantine II.

Any dealer or collector with information on this offense should contact:

July 7th, 2014

Coin Shop Burglary San Antonio, Texas

Harry’s Coin and Jewelry in San Antonio,TX was burglarized in the early morning hours of 7/6/2014. The suspect or suspects gained entry into a neighboring office space that was vacant and broke through the wall into a shelved inventory area. Once inside they removed several boxes of silver bullion coins from the shelves.

July 6th, 2014

Breck Rare Coins Victim of Major Theft after the recent Baltimore show.

David Salvette, owner, of Breck Rare Coins was the victim of a major theft after the recent Baltimore show. The theft occurred from a Super Shuttle van parked in front of the Hyatt Hotel. The suspect removed a roller bag from the rear of the van as Salvette and the driver were getting inside to depart for the airport. Video from the hotel shows a tall black male wearing a tie removing the bag from the van. A report has been filed with the Baltimore Police Department.

March 21, 2014

Major Theft/Stolen Ancient Coins

March 20, 2014 – Michael Creusy from ABC Numismatique a Lyon-based coin shop was the victim of a major theft. The family, who has been in the coin business for more than forty years, was on their way home from the bi-annual numismatic coin show in Paris on March 15, 2014 when they were robbed of their complete inventory of ancient and modern coins worth over 1 million euros. Allegedly two men are being suspected and also linked to thefts of rare coins at Crinon and Poinsignon during the Paris coin show.

According to Mr Creusy ‘an unpublished unique denarius of Galba from Carthage and a Charles IV Salut struck in gold in Paris are just two examples of the many unique and rare pieces that were stolen.

February 21, 2014

Missing/Stolen Coins
A coin being shipped to Orange County, California has been reported missing/stolen. The coin is a 1855-O $20 Lib. PCGS XF-45 with a CAC Sticker. The serial number is 11510992 (pictured below). Anyone with information should contact: Doug Davis at 817-723-7231 or via email at Doug@numismaticcrimes.org

Orlando, Florida

A United Postal Service package containing coins has been reported missing/stolen in Orlando, Florida.

February 13, 2014

Currency Dealer Victim of Vehicle Burglary
A currency dealer on his way home after a attending the recent White Plains New York Coin Show was the victim of a vehicle burglary which resulted in the loss of over $500,000 in collectible currency. The suspects smashed the windows of the vehicle and removed briefcases containing the dealer’s inventory.

February 10, 2014

COUNTERFEIT SUSPECT

Dealers in Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma and Kansas should be on the look out for a suspect selling counterfeit coins and bullion within the last ten days. The suspect has been identified as Gabe Owen and sometimes uses the alias Garet or Gabriel Owen. Owen is a white male and uses a Kansas driver’s license or a passport as identification. The vehicle driven by Owen is a white Yukon or Tahoe.

Owen is attempting to sell gold bars, one ounce gold eagles, a 1795 PCGS VF dollar and silver eagles. The same suspect was identified in similar incidents and reported by NCIC approximately one year ago.

We are working with authorities to get a current photo. At the present time there is no outstanding warrant for this subject.

Founder

Doug Davis founder and president of NCIC is currently the City Manager and former Chief of Police in Pantego, Texas. Doug has over 30 years experience in law enforcement and the numismatic industry. Doug is a graduate of the University of Texas and holds a Master Level Police Officer License in the State of Texas. Doug is a licensed law enforcement instructor and maintains a Lieutenants status with the Pantego Police Department.

In 1987 Doug established the Numismatic Crime Information Center within the Pantego Police Department to assist law enforcement officers in the investigation of crimes against collectors and dealers. Later that same year he was instrumental in assisting the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the development of the National Stolen Coin File.

Recognized as an expert in numismatic investigations Doug developed the first and only accredited law enforcement school dealing with the investigation of numismatic crimes and continues to assist state, federal and local law enforcement agencies across the country. The American Numismatic Association has recognized Doug for his numismatic investigations and in 1988 was presented the PNG Sol Kaplan award for setting up a clearinghouse to coordinate investigations of crimes against the numismatic industry.

DISCLAIMER: All content within CoinWeek.com is presented for informational purposes only, with no guarantee of accuracy. All News, Articles, Commentary and Opinions are contributed by the author(s), with or without compensation, who are solely responsible for the content, and do not represent CoinWeek Management.CoinWeek does not buy or sell coins or numismatic material and No endorsement or affiliation to or from CoinWeek.com is made.